6 Korean Beauty Trends You Need To Try Now

Since the global popularisation of Asian miracle product BB cream, South Korea has been in the spotlight in the beauty industry. Famous for introducing the ten step skincare routine, their innovative products and intense focus on research and development, the Korean beauty industry is often at the forefront of innovations and processes.

Korean cosmetic companies fiercely compete to create products of the highest quality, yet are surprisingly affordable. They also stay away from harsh chemicals and instead choose to use natural components and ingredients with names you can actually pronounce, such as honey, green tea and bamboo sap among other, more adventurous, ingredients that we’ll discuss later.

Not only are they innovative in product development, they also up the ante when it comes to design. If it’s not adorable and quirky, it’s sophisticated and elegant, which is like the cherry on top of the cake when it comes to Korean cosmetics.

There are thousands of Korean cosmetics you could try and probably love. But let’s get down to business and discuss some of the best Korean beauty trends you simply need in your life.

Snail Mucin

Snail Mucin is very popular in Korea and is used in many products, such as face creams and masks. It’s not crushed up snail, but snail secretion. You know the trail of slimy stuff that Snails leave behind?

Slime is probably the last thing you’d want to put on your skin but snail cream is actually used as an effective beauty aid in Korea that is meant to reduce inflammation and redness, stimulate skin regeneration and lock moisture into the skin. It may seem odd to put something like this onto your skin but remember humans and most other animals excrete oils naturally to protect their skin.

Gradient Lips

Koreans love wearing bright lip colours, but what they really enjoy is the ‘gradiated’ style. A strong shade is usually applied to the centre of the lip, fading out to a paler colour at the edges. There are even lipsticks that include two or three different colours that you simply sweep across your lips to create the same effect.

You can easily try this at home with a few different shades of lipstick - just remember to smudge.

Jelly Textures

Makeup with a jelly texture is big on the streets of Seoul. From lip tint, cheek or eye products, there’s a jelly version of most things. The formula is light, bright, long lasting and incredibly cooling, and makes you feel fresh all summer long.

The most recent innovation from jelly land, is jelly lip tattoos – just paint the jelly on your lips, wait a moment and then peel it off. It claims to stain your lips the colour of your choice, and lasts all day long.

Playful Packaging

So this isn’t really a trend, it’s a way of life in Korea. A lot of cosmetics are contained within adorable tubes, pots, boxes etc, which is typical of Korean style. We’re talking hand creams inside peaches and apples and night masks inside eggs and bananas - that kind of thing.

Pig Collagen sounds pretty disgusting, but it claims to erase wrinkles and gives tired-looking skin a baby-face glow, so it might be worth a shot. It's incredibly thick and jelly-like in texture, so is used more as a night cream or face mask.

Many reviewers have claimed they noticed a difference in their skin that included tighter pores, fewer lines, a brighter complexion and more hydrated face. It essentially acts as a non-surgical alternative to collagen injections.

Cushion Compacts

The newest trend to come out of Korea. This new innovation in foundation includes patented Fluid Capture Technology, which basically transforms a thin liquid into a refined emulsion via cushion delivery. Just tap the product on to your face and use the springy sponge to blend. It allows for a uniquely weightless and buildable coverage that can be reapplied every two hours, without caking (if necessary of course).

Layering is not only possible, it’s encouraged. And the more product you tap onto your skin, the more dewy coverage you get. But that’s not all. They’ve even managed to include SPF 50, which is quite an achievement in such a light formula. This product is great for those who struggle with regular liquid foundation. It’s light, buildable and foolproof!

Donkey Milk

Donkey Milk is another one of the miracle creams you’ll find in Korea. It claims to have four or five times more Vitamin C than cow’s milk and is rich in proteins. It’s renowned for its healing properties and also its highly moisturizing capabilities.

This cream is deal for those with sensitive skin, particularly those with eczema. Want more persuasion? Cleopatra was said to have taken daily baths in the stuff.

So there you have it, 6 Korean beauty trends you just have to try. Are you tempted? If so, check out out memebox.com and Sokoglam.com or if you're in the UK koreankosmetics.co.uk.